I Became the Progenitor Vampire Chapter 288

Chapter 288: Chapter 290: Did It Just Turn into a Flirty Situation? (10,000-Word Mega Chapter) Chapter 288: Chapter 290: Did It Just Turn into a Flirty Situation? (10,000-Word Mega Chapter) “Bearer of the Sea God's Crown?”

“The Day of Awakening?”

“What is this all about?” Lide frowned tightly.

Yet the title 'Sea God' instantly put him on high alert.

A god is the most frightening and supreme power in Glory, and anything related to such beings is never simple.

Could there really be a deity in this sea domain?

But the main plane of Glory repelled divine beings, so much so that even ancient and everlasting divinities like the Life Goddess could not descend to the main plane. So how could a Sea God suddenly appear?

Seeing Lide's expression, Amiya narrowed her eyes. Did this vampire truly not know about the Sea God Festival? Her keen intuition told her that the other party probably wasn't lying.

A bold idea formed in her mind.

“Esteemed Bloodline representative, your power has earned the recognition of the Blue Star Tribe, perhaps we can make a trade…”

Lide quietly sensed his surroundings for a moment. Aside from the four Level 15 beings frolicking in the deep sea, there were no other formidable combat forces.

There was a playful glint in his eyes.

This mermaid was somewhat interesting. Just moments ago, they were fighting tooth and nail, and now she could switch her mindset instantly to start a negotiation.

Even he would find it difficult to stay as composed.

It was only because the second-generation Bloodlines hadn't truly perished, or else he wouldn't bother “chatting” with this mermaid. He'd turnout the situation first and talk later.

Negotiation? That too would wait until he had her in a tub back in Dawn City.

However, the brief mention of the 'Sea God' had piqued his interest, so he decided to hold off on taking action.

Uncharacteristically during battle, he did something he often scorned and despised–engaging in idle talk with the enemy.

“Never mind the trade for now, what's this 'Bearer of the Sea God's Crown's Day of Awakening'?”

As soon as Lide voiced the question, the atmosphere on the field entered into a strange state.

Just a moment ago, they were enemies on the verge of a life-and-death fight.

Even now, far in the deep sea, sea monsters were being slaughtered by countless crimson bats, and the Bloody Storm was growing fiercer by the second, with countless lives perishing every second.

Yet under these circumstances, the two leaders of the opposing forces were now conversing in an unexpectedly “harmonious and friendly” manner.

The scene was downright surreal.

Amiya was also stunned for a moment, looking deeply at Lide, she did not hesitate much longer to unveil a secret that was virtually public knowledge in the Sea of Lost.

“The Sea of Lost is so vast its size is uncalculable. We are far from the deep sea area, this is the shoreline of the Sea of Lost, which we call the Lost Coast.”

Lide nodded. The Sea of Lost was one of the four great sea domains of Glory. Although it wasn't as well-known as the Storm Sea Domain, it was still enough to make anyone feel insignificant before it.

“The Lost Coast is protected by the Bearer of the Sea God's Crown.

The Crowned One sleeps at the entrance from the Lost Coast to the deep part of the Sea of Lost, shielding the Lost Coast from the terrifying creatures of the deep sea.”

As he said this, a flicker of barely discernible fear crossed Amiya's eyes, “Without the Bearer of the Sea God's Crown, those giant beasts from the deep sea would turn the Lost Coast into hell, and no one would be able to withstand those creatures with bodies spanning thousands of blades…”

Sleeping at the entrance to the deep sea? A flicker of curiosity crossed Lide's eyes. That must be the lair of this so-called Sea God… I wonder what precious treasures are buried there?

A boss that could shelter an entire sea domain must have at least two or three Divine Artifacts.

He was inwardly restless.

If Amiya knew Lide's thoughts, she would undoubtedly think he had lost his mind.

“Every ten years, the Bearer of the Sea God's Crown awakens, and the tribes under its protection must present life offerings pure in Bloodline Power as a sacrifice to the Crowned One.”

Amiya's expression became visibly stiff as she spoke.

After hearing this, Lide nodded slightly, but he still wasn't sure if this Bearer of the Sea God's Crown had reached divine heights.

If it really was a deity… he would do well to keep his distance. Dawn City might aspire to slay dragons but slaying gods was entirely another matter.

“Is the Bearer of the Sea God's Crown a legend?”

Amiya tilted her head slightly upwards, her tone filled with intense reverence, “No, the Bearer of the Sea God's Crown is a being who once touched the realm of the divine, just without igniting the Divine Fire…”

Lide was shocked. No wonder they were referred to as the Sea God.

This boss… sounded pretty strong.

He had been gathering information about sects and divine beings lately. Although such high-Level material was mostly top secret and unlikely to leak much useful information.

“But from the narratives of the wandering bards and the myths of various religions,” one could generally summarize the steps to becoming a god as follows.

Divine Position, Divine Status, Divine Fire.

To become a god, one must first confirm their Divine Position. For example, Lide, due to the activation of 1% of blood by Divine materials, fits the two Divine Positions of Bloodline.

Once one fully controls the Divine Position, they can then condense their Divine Status. After condensing the Divine Status, igniting the Divine Fire would make one a true Divine being.

Of course, such vague information only gives a general idea of the process; the specifics are likely only known when one reaches that stage.

The intelligence department of Dawn City currently does not have the capability to obtain information of such a level.

“What race is that Sea God? Fishman?”

Amiya shook her head, “Nobody knows the full extent of the Sea God, the grand Sea God is an untouchable, unscrutable, unimaginable, indescribable towering existence…”

Lide's mouth twitched fiercely. Are you sure you're not telling me about the Cthulhu Mythos??

But after pondering for a moment, he decided to abandon the shocking and outrageous thoughts that had just arisen in him.

This lifeform, whose horror reached the extreme, and whose age was unknown, ruled absolutely over the tens of thousands of kilometers of vast sea area along the Lost Coast, and was far more ferocious than the Extraordinary Mage of Green City.

Dawn City would need time to grow before it could face this ultimate boss.

Right now, the most important thing was to resolve the issue with the Fishman.

With this in mind, Lide's face slowly grew colder,
as he stared intently at Amiya.

“Fishman, no matter how powerful the Sea God is, he cannot govern matters on land.

Now, let's return to the main point.

The crime of provoking Dawn City is enough for me to personally send you to meet the Death God, no one can infringe upon the dignity of Dawn City.”

Amiya tensed up sharply, and her Magic Power began to rapidly circulate within her body. But after seeing that Lide did not take immediate action, she breathed a nearly imperceptible sigh of relief.

The Blue Star Tribe had no way out.

Her subordinates consisted only of four Level 15 Fishman Warriors, whereas the opposite side possessed three Level 16 Fierce Octopuses, plus an individual who was able to kill four and subdue three out of seven Level 16 Fierce Octopuses besieging him.

She had no confidence she could defeat Lide.

The fate of the Blue Star Tribe hinged upon her decision.

“Bloodline sir, the Blue Star Tribe does not fear war!”

Amiya did not yield, firmly spouting her stance. However, she immediately shifted her tone.

“However, your strength has earned the respect of the Blue Star Tribe, and we do not wish for mutual destruction.

If you can provide us with more Bloodline of pure blood, I am willing to trade for it.”

After speaking, Amiya took out the golden conch with mysterious inscriptions hanging from her waist, her snow-white slender fingers slightly grasping the conch before waving it in front of her. Following this, space shattered with a crack, and a pitch-black space appeared.

Seeing this, Lide's eyes narrowed. A space artifact? This was the first time he had seen a native possessing a space artifact since he came to the Glory, aside from players.

Such objects were too precious.

Then, right in front of Lide, Amiya retrieved a snow-white tusk from the broken space that was two blade lengths long and slightly curved, like an enlarged version of a dagger.

“This is a Legendary Level Sea Dragon Beast's tusk. The Blue Star Tribe stumbled upon it in a Dead Sea three hundred years ago.”

Amiya looked fervently at Lide, “If possible, I am willing to trade the Legendary Level Sea Dragon Beast tusk for ten pure Bloodline members.

Furthermore, the Blue Star Tribe will abandon this conflict with the Bloodline.”

Lide was somewhat surprised by Amiya's proposal. A Legendary Sea Dragon Beast??

He focused his gaze.

Sea Dragon Beast Tusk
Quality: Legendary
Description: The tusk shed by a Sea Dragon Beast before ascending to Demigod status. Perhaps you can use it to forge Legendary Equipment.

Inwardly exasperated, he realized it was genuinely of Legendary quality, and the system's description was so straightforward–forge Legendary Equipment.

Lide's heart started to race.

At that moment, he also remembered the proud girl from Risier City, who even in the face of Death held her head high, and of course, her Blood Cloak.

“F*ck, why does every one of you have Legendary Equipment, while I struggle to forge two Extraordinary pieces? It's such a pain in the ass.”

It seems like a piece of Legendary material that can be used to forge Legendary Equipment can be exchanged for 10 members of the Bloodline without losing out… Wait, I almost got derailed there.

Lide's eyes narrowed slightly. If he won, wouldn't all of this become his?

“Fishman, when my magic burns on your corpse, everything you have will belong to me.”

His tone was aggressive and domineering, as if there was no room for negotiation.

Now, Lide fully controlled the initiative on the field. Although the opponent still had four top combatants at Level 15 from the deep sea, as well as that Sea Clam whose level was not yet determined but could cast Five Circle no-fly magic.

However, with the combat power that allowed him to dominate seven Level 16 Fierce Octopuses, his presence was so strong that no one dared look directly at his radiance.

No shrinking back.

Even with this Level 17 mermaid in front of him, he still held absolute confidence.

Indeed, this top-tier mermaid with deep-sea colored hair floating behind her head, looked mysterious and exceptional.

Amiya Blue Star
Title: Fishman Princess, Heart of the Ocean, Sea God Messenger, ???, ???

Age: 169
Level: 17
Profession: Tide Messenger
Special Talent: ???

Bloodline: ???

Introduction: She is the most beautiful Tribe Leader of the Fishman Clan in the southern Sea of Lost, the ocean's darling with talents and bloodline that all Fishmen envy.

Even though her attributes were not fully listed, Amiya's Level 17 status still made Lide take a second glance.

But no matter what, initiating a negotiation of surrender wouldn't be that easy.

“Dawn City came in search of trade partners, but you, the Fishmen of the Blue Star Tribe, have seriously provoked Dawn City.

The blood of my deceased clan members can only be cleansed with your blood.”

Lide waved his hand as if he was about to prepare for battle.

Seeing the dominant Lide, Amiya unconsciously found herself on the back foot.

Lide had three newly enslaved Level 16 Fierce Octopuses on hand, he naturally didn't care, but these forces were originally from the Blue Star Tribe. Even if they won the battle, how many clan members could possibly remain?

Negotiations were like two people crossing a narrow bridge face to face; when one person stepped forward, the other had no choice but to step back, a typical zero-sum game.

Unfortunately, the current Blue Star Tribe didn't have many chips to negotiate with Lide, so in this game, they could never win unless Lide made a foolish decision.

“No, Bloodline Your Excellency, you cannot kill us all!!” Amiya raised a golden conch in her hand, “This is the Lost Conch passed down by our ancestors of the Blue Star Tribe. This Legendary Equipment can teleport our tribesmen back to the tribe.

If you choose war, the end will surely be mutually assured destruction. The Blue Star Tribe is not a weak clownfish; you will only face the tusks of the Blue Star Tribe!

Even if you win the war, you will gain no benefits!”

Another Legendary?

Lide's mouth twitched, how come these rich SOBs can just pull out Legendary Equipment like it's nothing?

Opened the attribute panel.

Lost Horn
Quality: Legendary
???

Description: A treasure made from a twenty-thousand-year-old space conch shell that has a very strong affinity for space.

After reading it, Lide's brow raised slightly, feeling somewhat troubled.

Legendary Equipment that facilitates escape… literally screwing the Husky.

He somewhat regretted not bringing out Withered Bone, who was skilled in Space Magic and perhaps had the ability to track down the other party.

Even though the opponent had a way out, it still didn't soften his stance in the slightest; his tone remained strong.

“Not enough, Fishman, this is still not enough. The damage you've caused to Dawn City is enough for me to destroy you at all costs.”

Cold light overflowed from Lide's eyes.

Currently, other than some weapons, Dawn City's losses weren't significant, but the Centaurs had fallen in battle. Although the Centaur Tribe was merely a tool in his heart, a means to be sacrificed, it was different in negotiations, as this was a bargaining chip.

Amiya squinted her eyes slightly. Although Lide remained tough, she sensed a glimmer of hope for peace in him.

If it weren't for the Sea God Festival approaching rapidly, she would never concede so easily. The Blue Star Tribe was no spineless octopus.

But now, the Blue Star Tribe could not afford to lose any more.

Compromise and yielding were the wisdom of survival.

Amiya could only comfort herself with this thought.

The power of the sea was endless, and no one could directly confront the storms that tore the skies asunder. Sometimes, retreating might be the better choice.

After pondering for a moment, Amiya took out a second item from the golden conch.

“This is Apolly Sea Snake's Horn, a legendary item bestowed upon the ancestors of the Blue Star Tribe by the Sea God Himself.”

Apolly Sea Snake's Horn
Quality: Legendary
Description: The horn of a legendary creature from the sea, forging weapons with it can endow them with unimaginable properties.

The third legendary item.

Lide's heart trembled, and his eyes filled with fervor as he regarded Amiya.

Damn it, I really want to kill and loot… What to do…

Who on earth invented space equipment? They should be dragged out, shot, then buried alive. No, shot and buried at the same time…

And that damned Withered Bone, used to follow me around all the time, and now when I need you, you're nowhere to be found…

At the same time, Lide's heart swelled with a deep yearning for the sea as he directly saw for the first time the immense wealth the rich marine environment could hold.

Three legendary items were already before him… could it be that Divine Artifacts would come next??

“As long as you can provide ten pure Bloodline individuals for the trade and return the Fierce Octopus to the Blue Star Tribe.

These two pieces of legendary materials can be a part of the exchange.

Honorable Bloodline strong one, this is the Blue Star Tribe's final bottom line. If you refuse, then we will resolve everything with war.”

Amiya's tone had also become firm; she didn't want to go to war with the strong yet mysterious Lide, but she couldn't keep conceding without limit.

Trade with pure Bloodline individuals?

Lide's eyes narrowed slightly.

“Frey, Amy, Lucy–are they alright?”

Logically speaking, if the other side insisted on exchanging Bloodline individuals, then the Bloodline must be extremely valuable to them. Would they really be willing to use such valuable assets as bait?

But on the Fishman island where the trap was set, the display of Bloodline Power by Frey and the others was undoubtedly genuine, which confused Lide.

Amiya nodded. “Yes, those three Bloodline individuals you mentioned are still in our hands, including the 600 Centaurs.”

“What's with the Bloodline Power on the island??”

“We once obtained a pearl from a 100,000-year-old Sea Clam, which possesses incredible abilities… Temporarily replicating Bloodline Power isn't difficult.”

Showing off wealth again, this damned tycoon.

Lide's eyes revealed a thoughtful expression.

At the beginning of the encounter with the Fishmen, he had only two choices: overthrow the other party or be overthrown himself. However, the trade proposed suddenly by Amiya introduced a third option to this life-or-death situation.

Negotiations, trade.

But when Amiya produced space equipment that allowed for escape, all other options vanished, leaving only one–trade.

Since he wasn't confident about overthrowing the opposition when they held space equipment,
He had no choice; if he chose direct confrontation, winning would bring no gain–as they could escape, and losing would force him to surrender all his recent gains. He could not possibly conduct such a loss-making deal.

With no alternatives left, he had to seek more benefits within the only remaining option.

What was his main objective for coming here?

To travel this far across the seas to fight with the Fishmen? Wasn't that whimsical? Wouldn't it be better to return to the Crimson Mage Tower and flirt with a few girls?

He was here for opening trade with the Fishman Country, to make this vast ocean a dumping ground for Dawn City's goods, and to turn it into his resource point.

Moreover, from the current situation, the abundance of this ocean far exceeded his expectations.

“I had no choice before, but now, I just want to be a good person, pah, make more money.”

Lide had somewhat clarified his thoughts and instantly understood the current positions of himself and the Fishman Country. He was here to establish trade channels for the benefit of Dawn City, while the Fishman Country was concerning themselves with something called the Sea God Festival, hunting lives of pure Bloodline for sacrifice. There was no direct conflict of interests between the two forces.

With this in mind, his thoughts became agile.

“Negotiation,” Lide said, looking at the mermaid with a hint of deeper meaning, “Dawn City's original intent coming to the Sea of Lost was to trade with the Fishman Empire.

But now, it seems you're not fond of simple trading methods, preferring to let strength do the talking.”

After hearing Lide say this for the second time, Amiya was truly surprised.

A Vampire from far away from the Sea of Lost specifically came to trade with the Fishman Empire, an idea so absurd and incredible.

When she met Frey, she had heard from him the same notion. Amiya believed there was definitely something fishy with Frey, and coupled with the fact that he had undergone three job changes to become a Crimson Hunter with an incredibly pure second-generation Bloodline Power, she had used trickery to deceive Frey into passing the message to Lide.

What they wanted was to hunt the even purer first-generation Bloodline.

And after Frey sent out the message, she had used the Illusionary Mist to knock out everyone, leading to the subsequent events.

Lide's presence surely did not disappoint them, as his pure Bloodline Power could make the Deep Sea Holy Pearl shine with brilliant light.

However, the one thing they hadn't counted on was that Lide's combat ability had exceeded everyone's expectation, completely upsetting the table.

Not only did he rout more than a hundred thousand Deep Sea Beasties prepared for battle, but he also remained unscathed in the encirclement of seven Level 16 Fierce Octopuses.

He had pushed the Blue Star Tribe into an awkward predicament where they did not fight, they would decline, and fighting would cost them dearly, forcing them to soften and ask for peace.

“Bloodline's strong one, maybe the Blue Star Tribe has had a misunderstanding with you. If you agree to my terms, then from now on, the Blue Star Tribe will form a friendly relationship with you and engage in trade,” Amiya said, deciding directly without beating around the bush after confirming the truth in Lide's words.

The previous costs pained her, but they were sunk costs that couldn't be recovered. Now, to recoup even a little bit was preferable.

If Lide agreed to this trade, the Blue Star Tribe's losses could be reduced to four Fierce Octopuses, and they would still get the sacrifice for the Sea God Festival, resolving the imminent life-and-death crisis coming next month.

Although it was still a loss, it was now within an acceptable limit.

Lide's eyes slightly narrowed as he immediately grasped the mermaid's plan.

He found it somewhat amusing inside. This mermaid was indeed clever, this was undoubtedly the perfect maneuver to recover losses.

But, if it all went to you, what would I profit?

“No, Fishman, your two Legendary Equipment pieces will serve as an apology for the attack on Dawn City. In addition, you must immediately release the Bloodline and my subordinates…”

Amiya's eyes turned sharply cold, her deep blue hair floating in the air becoming even darker.

But Lide did not stop there, “Furthermore, the Fishman department is not yet qualified to negotiate trading the Bloodline. The life of the Bloodline is more precious than a giant dragon.

And these three Fierce Octopuses are my spoils of war, untouchable by anyone else.”

Anger filled Amiya's eyes, and her voice dropped to a low growl, “Bloodline sir, are you preparing to continue the war with the Blue Star Tribe?”

Her palm had already gripped the golden conch firmly, Magic Power starting to circulate madly. Even the Fishman lurking beneath the sea surface were amassing strength, and in the deeper parts of the ocean, a massive night slowly surfaced – the mysterious No-fly Zone Sea Clam.

The air grew heavy, sparks flying.

Lide's lips curled into a pronounced grin.

“Continue the war? It seems I wouldn't need much effort to obliterate you all…”

Amiya's gaze fiercely sharpened, her colossal fishtail moving through the water, her heart sinking into the depths. The situation she least wanted to face had come to pass after all.

But just as Amiya was about to strike, a single sentence from Lide pulled her from the abyss into heaven.

“However, I did not come here with the intention of destroying you. On the contrary, Dawn City's initial aim was to establish trade channels with you to help you grow stronger,” Lide stated with firm conviction and powerful self-assurance, “My thoughts remain the same now.

What you require is merely a life with Bloodline Power pure enough to be sacrificed to the Sea God.

And I have a much better option than the Bloodline, one that will surely earn you generous rewards from your Sea God.”

Amiya's eyes brightened, her Magic slightly slowing, “What is it?”

Lide smiled brilliantly, gesturing at the Golden Octopus under his feet.

“It's this, a Golden Life that has awakened the Ancient Golden Octopus Bloodline…”

Golden Life… what a load of crap.

Lide knew when he infused the Power of Faith to help this Golden Octopus Level up that its Bloodline was extremely patchy, and it would never awaken the Golden Bloodline in this lifetime.

Now its awakened state was at 10%; it would be a miracle if it could reach 20%.

The potential could be seen with a single glance.

And if he used the Power of Faith to help the other party, Lide had slightly calculated the consumption needed for this Golden Octopus to evolve into a true Golden Life–it would take about one million Power of Faith to help this Golden Octopus transform into a true Golden Life.

The other party had reached the end when their bloodline awoke; to completely transform it was almost like using the Power of Faith to pile up, no different from creating a Golden Life from scratch.

But why would he use one million Power of Faith for something better, to cultivate a deep-sea monster that might not even be used a few times in his life, he must be out of his mind.

Although the ocean's resources were rich, he had no short-term plans to develop oceanic forces.

He simply did not have the energy for it, as the foundation of Dawn City was so thin. The jurisdictions of several nearby forces already made the City Hall struggle; let alone the ocean thousands of kilometers away.

Moreover, with his growth rate, by the time he wanted to develop oceanic forces in the future, only extraordinary level giant beasts would catch his eye.

So he did not hesitate to sell this octopus; although it was insignificant to him, the 10% Golden Bloodline awakened in it was not fake.

Hearing Lide's words, Amiya blinked and then the golden horn in her hand moved slightly; the mermaid took out a fist-sized pearl from the space.

After Amiya slightly infused Magic Power into the pearl towards the Golden Octopus, the pearl bloomed with dazzling light after a moment.

“Golden Bloodline?!! This Fierce Octopus actually really awoke the bloodline of the Ancient Golden Octopus!!”

The tone was somewhat incredulous, after all, this Fierce Octopus was from their hands.

Immediately there was some disappointment, “But it seems the bloodline is not pure…”

Lide smiled slightly, “No, the bloodline of this Golden Octopus has great potential. As long as you can increase the resource input, it will truly enter the Awakening Period in a short time.

Even if it cannot fully awaken, I believe it will be enough for your sacrificial use after a month.

Moreover, the size of the Golden Octopus is not something ordinary creatures can compare with. The Sea God will definitely like this big guy.”

Listening to this, it seemed quite reasonable? Amiya's expression was a bit dazed.

Lide's gaze was intense as he looked at Amiya, his eyes slightly narrowed.

“I believe with the foundation of the Blue Star Tribe, activating the bloodline of a Golden Octopus in a short time should not be too much of an issue.

And as long as you can activate the ancient bloodline within this octopus, trust me, you will be rewarded with more precious items by the Sea God.

It might be a slot for advancing to the transcendent level, it could be a Half-Artifact, or perhaps gifting you a group of Level 19 or even extraordinary deep-sea giant beasts…

All of these are possible, and all you need to do is fully activate the bloodline of this Golden Octopus.

Such huge profits are right in front of you, with a negligible cost.

You brought these two Legendary Materials for the exchange, surely because they are of little importance to the Blue Star Tribe, right?

Using two things that the Blue Star Tribe does not care about, to gamble for a transcendent member of your race or an extraordinary deep-sea giant beast… The Blue Star Tribe has made a huge profit from this deal.”

If Amiya had experienced the modern world, she would definitely know this is called pie in the sky…

But what Lide didn't know was that the Blue Star Tribe indeed had been rewarded by the Sea God in the past, and it was that reward that had led to their rise; even these several Fierce Octopi were part of the fortune saved up from that time.

So the pie in the sky he painted instantly dazed Amiya, because it wasn't a lie, but a fact once experienced by her ancestors.

When Amiya came back to her senses, she looked at the Golden Octopus with blazing eyes.

“Bloodline Sir….”

Lide watched Amiya, seemingly moved, his eyes slightly narrowed.

“There's no need to say more, Fishman, the Blue Star Tribe doesn't have a third option. Either we go to war, and I let these three Fierce Octopuses perish together with those four Level 15s in your sea, leaving the Blue Star Tribe with nothing.

Or accept my goodwill, use two useless materials to exchange for one of my clansmen, and seize a great opportunity to obtain a slot for transcendent advancement or an extraordinary deep-sea giant beast.

War or peace, survival or destruction, it's all within a single thought of yours.”

After Lide finished speaking, his Crimson Eyes descended again with the Master of Crimson trait, the Perfect Level Aura of fear emanated boundless dignity.

At this moment, Lide, who was standing elegantly on the giant octopus with eight golden-striped arms and thirty-blade long tentacles, seemed like the Great Devil himself had descended, his aura making the entire sea domain oppressive and heavy.

Especially a few kilometers away, the Bloody Storm had reached a state of chaos, with tens of thousands of murderous bats frantically devouring any Deep Sea Fishman daring to surface.

That tragic backdrop added countless dignities to him.

At this moment, seemingly inadvertent, Lide gently patted his shoulder, and Castro on his shoulder suddenly spread his wings, fluttering to the sea surface and expanding before Amiya's eyes.

The Extraordinary Armor on his body twinkled with a unique profound glow.

A Level 15 newborn king, powerful and domineering.

Amiya's pressure surged greatly.

Three Fierce Octopi, a Level 15 unidentified flying creature, plus a Vampire who could fight seven at once.

War or peace, survival or destruction…

Amiya took a deep look at Lide, as if from the moment she proposed the trade options, she had been led by the nose by him.

But what frustrated her the most was that the power in her hands couldn't pose much danger to the opponent; on the contrary, if Lide recklessly started the war, even if the Blue Star Tribe won in the end, she would still be the one who suffered the greatest loss, because she didn't know how terrifying that vampire who could take on seven enemies alone was.

They would have to pay a huge price to achieve victory in the war.

“Very well, Bloodline Highness, the Blue Star Tribe will engage in a trade with you.”

Although Amiya had relented, her tone remained sharp, “But I need you to return all three Fierce Octopuses to the Blue Star Tribe. In exchange, all your Bloodline kin and subordinates will be returned to you unharmed.”

Lide shook his head and refused without a second thought.

“No, Bloodline and my subordinates have never been within the scope of a trade.

If you want the remaining two Fierce Octopuses, you need to offer something of equivalent value that can interest me.”

The Fierce Octopuses looked formidable, but they were all show; they could bully lower-level fighters, but they weren't much against high-level opponents.

Besides, he had no intention to develop a naval power, so Lide didn't care much about these octopuses–the key was whether the other party could come up with an exchange item that satisfied him.

Amiya fell silent for a moment, her expression complex as she looked at Lide standing atop the head of a Golden Octopus.

Those Fierce Octopuses all belonged to the Blue Star Tribe…

Selling what was originally theirs back to them and still requiring two Legendary Items, not to mention the return of previous captives, Lide's maneuvering made Amiya regret her decisions.

Had she known it would come to this, why seize those vampires at all? Was she masochistic?

Those vampires were truly vampiric; they nearly sucked the Blue Star Tribe dry.

Ultimately, Amiya succumbed to Lide's overbearing demand.

The Blue Star Tribe, cornered into a desperate situation, had no capital to continue gambling with Lide at the table.

A Sunshine Hour later, the sky brightened considerably.

Far from the recent Bloody Storm battlefield, on a knee-deep, seawater-flooded island.

Unknown trees with beautiful red leaves took root and grew in the water; from a distance, the rustling red leaves made for a strikingly beautiful scene.

Dense groups of deep-sea monsters swam around the island, and three Fierce Octopuses revealed their bodies in the distance, idly slapping the water's surface out of boredom. The surrounding deep-sea monsters steered clear to avoid being ripped apart by these behemoths.

Lide sat underneath a red-leaf tree, on a stone seat standing in the water, just three hand spans above the surface. In front of him was a stone table laid out with various unnamed blue liquids provided by the Fishmen–supposedly it was liquor, but Lide had no intention of partaking.

Before him stood Frey, Ivy, and Lucy, three second-generation Bloodline who had transitioned into Crimson Hunters.

The three Bloodline looked regretful at that moment, feeling guilty for making such a significant misstep.

“Your Majesty…”

Frey approached Lide and bowed deeply with hands over chest.

Lide gazed intently at this Bloodline who had once stood out among the best in the Bloodline.

“Learn from the lessons; failure is not to be feared, but rather the inability to accept one's defeat.

I'll leave the Dwarf Hills and Blue Star Tribe under your management.

Even the mightiest Dragon Slayer must start learning how to wield a sword as a clumsy apprentice.

Do not be disheartened; the future is long, and my expectations for you are high.”

Frey, originally downcast due to the Fishmen's treachery, slowly brightened at those words.

He bowed deeply to Lide once again.

“Your Majesty, Frey will not let down your expectations again.”

Lide nodded and said nothing more.

He truly wasn't concerned about one or two failures; these were all experiences and lessons. This Bloodline, long guarding within the Blood Pool, had become somewhat out of touch with the current Dawn City.

With these lessons in mind, Lide believed that this talent, who had been among the top ranks of the Bloodline for over a hundred years, would surely rise to the challenge.

Moreover, this couldn't even be called a failure; after all, they had gained far more than they had lost.

Swish~swish~swish
The sound of fishtails slapping the water surface rang out; from another side of the Red Leaf Forest, more than a dozen Fishmen approached Lide, cutting through the water.

The long fishtails weren't much different from ordinary fish tails, with pale scales glinting in the sunlight against the shimmering water, quite eye-catching.

The upper bodies of the Fishmen were no different from humans, except that the male Fishmen wore no clothes; their robust muscles looked as though they had been cast from metal, well-defined in every segment, uncharacteristic of Fishmen and resembling more a solid statue.

The female Mermaids, however, looked entirely different.

Their soft and moist skin seemed almost translucent, with exquisitely perfect features that captivated the heart.

The sea blue eyes were filled with a dazzling brilliance, as if the ocean itself was drifting within the pupils.

The dark blue hair floating behind the mermaids like it did in the water added an indescribable air of mystery to them.

All the Fishman watched Lide stand up, their expressions incredibly complex.

Being forcibly brought to terms by a being they considered prey was psychologically difficult for them to accept.

But reality forced them to accept it.

“Kachar City Lord, I, Amiya Blue Star, representing the Blue Star Tribe, formally announce that the hostility toward Dawn City ends now.”

The mysteriously auraed, perfectly featured Amiya advanced, placing her pale right hand over her chest, giving Lide a bow typical of human nobility.

Lide nodded, “Chief Amiya, on behalf of Dawn City, I declare that from today onward, the Blue Star Tribe will be a friend to Dawn City.”

Amiya's face revealed a slight smile, then with a wave of her hand, two mermaids behind her brought up two trays made of seashells, bearing two pieces of Legendary Level materials.

“These are the agreed-upon materials for the trade, in exchange for the Golden Octopus materials.”

Lide's eyes grew hot. If he had the Legendary materials in hand, how far could the Legendary Equipment be??

After confirming there were no mistakes, he waved his hand and in front of everyone, stored the two Legendary Materials into the System Space.

His mood was exceptionally good.

This deal was far from a loss, it was a bloody fortune. His gaze toward Amiya was filled with immense delight.

He really wanted to ask, he had a lot more of the Bloodline, did the Blue Star Tribe want to plunder them all?

This action immediately made the other Fishmen narrow their eyes. A space treasure was no trivial matter, this Vampire was not to be underestimated.

Amiya showed no objections, then turned to look at the Fishmen below.

“Bring up the goods for the remaining two Fierce Octopuses.”

Then, under Lide's somewhat surprised gaze, a few Fishmen brought up a young girl who could only be described as stunningly beautiful, dressed in a light, white gauze gown.

Her flaxen hair, damp and draped behind her, and the semi-transparent white gauze gown, clinging tightly to her body because of the seawater, showed off alluring curves.

Her delicate features exuded a vulnerable charm, and her watery eyes resembled the profound ocean. In the middle of her brows was a small blue flame-shaped mark, and she appeared no older than sixteen or seventeen.

Lide narrowed his eyes, did they really think a human girl could be traded for two Level 16 Fierce Octopuses? Were these mermaids out of their minds??

Though this nearly perfect girl was captivating, was his own little maid any less than others?

Wasn't it delightful to have ghs going home?

Seemingly perceiving Lide's confusion, Amiya spoke with a hint of complexity.

“Kachar City Lord, this is a Fishman we captured last year after breaching a small tribe…”

Lide looked somewhat surprised at the girl's pale feet wading in the water, his voice filled with astonishment.

“She's a Fishman??”

Since when did Fishmen have human legs? Was this a fairy tale?

Amiya nodded then shook her head, “Kachar City Lord, she is a hybrid of human and Fishman…”

Seeing Lide about to ask a question Amiya explained directly, “During the day, she remains in a human state, but when the sunset is over, she will return to her Fishman form.

This is a hybrid Fishman not blessed by the sea.

Moreover, her Level has already reached 15.

Kachar City Lord, the value of this hybrid Fishman is definitely higher than two Fierce Octopuses.”

Hybrid Fishman, Lide looked at the girl with the small blue flame mark in her brows with a bit of curiosity.

At the same time, the girl also looked to Lide.

Their eyes met, and there was no anger or unwillingness as he would have imagined in her eyes, there was only serenity and indifference.

As though everything around her was unrelated, even if she was about to be traded to a legendary Vampire.

Without thinking, Lide opened up the other party's attribute panel.

After a glance, he slapped his hand onto the stone table in front of him, his voice filled with an undisguisable surprise.

“Deal!!”

His radiant smile left Amiya and the surrounding Fishmen completely baffled.

Why did this Vampire look as if he had stumbled upon a treasure?

Chapter end